Theater "Black Square". The art of improvising and being remembered by the viewer

The Black Square Theater is significantly different from its older “brothers” - named after Ivan Franko or Lesya Ukrainka. The latter belong to the classic, more familiar to the viewer. The first is a modern theater, it can be called rather youth, although the productions are very popular with viewers of all ages.

Foundation History

The Black Square Theater first appeared in the Ukrainian capital on September 13, 1991. This was made possible thanks to Anatoly Nikolaevich Neyolov, the founder of the theater-studio of improvisation. Judging by the stories of the actors themselves, there are several versions of how the idea of ​​creating this unusual theater at that time appeared.

Once the artistic director of the theater studio came to classes for the actors unprepared. He spread a large piece of black velvet in front of them and said that it doesn’t matter how they play, the main thing is that the result is interesting. This piece of velvet gave the name of the studio - "Black Square".

The theater appeared as a result of a combination of completely different circumstances, some actors claim. According to their version, it was they who came unprepared, not for a lesson, but for the premiere of a new play. The hall was full, and it was impossible to cancel the performance, so the artists went on stage and began to improvise. The performance was so liked by the audience that they escorted the actors with a storm of applause.

It is not known which of these stories is true, it is likely that both took place. The main thing is that thanks to these events, the Black Square appeared in Ukraine - the theater. Kiev became the only city in Ukraine where the improvisation studio-theater is located. The main principle of his work is a “live” play of actors. It is important to mention here that such projects appear from time to time in different parts of the country, but only the Black Square Theater is constantly functioning and touring.

Repertoire Features

The view of the theater team on staging and drama differs from the standards. Despite this, the halls are crowded every evening, because the repertoire is distinguished by an enviable variety. These are modern and experimental productions, although the actors do not refuse classical plays. In addition, several plots or even several plays can be combined in one performance. The main thing in this case is the improvisation of the actors, although it is not difficult to learn key phrases. During the performance, even the plot can change, so often not only the audience, but also the director and actors do not know how a separate production will end.

Kiev Theater "Black Square" each time prepares a unique performance that cannot be repeated, to play in the same way again. The actors are sure that every time the performance depends on many factors and coincidences that cannot be predicted.

Poster

For all the time of its work, the theater has become a place in which about seventy improvisational productions were released. Its actors are constantly working to expand and update the repertoire. The most successful are the following performances:

• "Rehearsals of dreams";
• "Little Thoughts";
• "Young people";
• "Everyone must die" (created by the card game "Mafia");
• “A man needs little”;
• "The bits of life, or 19 cm of love";
• “All women are for sale”;
• "Notes of a Russian traveler";
• "Examiner";
• "Sunset Invitation";
• "Invitation to the Dawn."

These and many other performances can be seen on the small experimental stage located on Shevchenko Boulevard, or on the big one in the Artist’s House. The Black Square Theater also takes part in all possible festivals of amateur and avant-garde theaters.

Theater Studio

As already mentioned, Black Square is not only a theater, but also an acting studio. It allows young people to develop their abilities to play on stage, to learn new techniques and methods.

Undoubtedly, such classes are of great importance for young talents, for whom it is important to improve their professional level. However, they will be useful not only to those for whom the theater has become life. According to the director, people who are far from playing on stage will be able to learn a lot of useful things here, because situations play out everyday situations in the classroom, and the studio makes it possible to analyze them.

"Black Square" is a theater in which great importance is attached to research. It is mainly aimed at finding new forms of expressiveness.